Learning system with roster files

ABSTRACT

A learning system is provided which includes a plurality of student units for use by a plurality of students and a teacher unit for use by a teacher. The learning system includes a computer for use also by the teacher that operates to control each of the student units using a roster file with data on each student, and which also gives the teacher access to all of the information contained within the roster file. The computer is operable to display a window of information that includes a seating assignment diagram that represents a pictorial arrangement of the students within the class. Identification information on each student may be provided in the seating assignment diagram at locations that correspond to the respective student represented in the pictorial arrangement. Further information on each student may further be accessed by the teacher from the seating assignment diagram, as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a learning system with rosterfiles and, more particularly, to a learning system, such as a languagelearning system, having various capabilities in coupling student andclass data maintained within roster files to specific interface/inputdevices based upon the stored information.

Various existing learning systems, including language learning systemsare comprised of a number of student consoles and a teacher console. Ateacher of a class utilizes the teacher console to monitor studentsduring the instruction of a specific subject such as a foreign language.Some language learning systems supply the teacher, after thecommencement of a test, with the students' test results and furtherinclude the capability of allowing the teacher to maintain notes withinthe language learning system on each of the students. Current languagelearning systems further provide the capability of allowing a teacher tosetup a "conference", wherein selected students are able to communicatewith one another via their respective headphones and microphones.

Although current language learning systems have advanced well beyond themore traditional utilization of a single tape recorder to teach aforeign language, existing devices have various shortcomings. Forexample, current systems do not integrate individual student data intothe education process, and do not allow for the teacher to see whoshe/he is working with. Further, such systems do not automaticallyanalyze student responses, and do not provide for the full automation ofstudent testing. Finally, current systems simply remain difficult andtime-consuming to use, requiring the teacher to spend more timeoperating the system and less time interacting with and teaching thestudents.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide alearning system which overcomes the shortcomings of existing learningdevices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a learning systemwith roster files which integrates individual student data into theeducation process by means of those roster files.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedlearning system which incorporates a computer for integration of allportions of the system, thereby allowing for greater flexibility andeasier use of the system.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide agraphical user interface for a learning system which provides for theeasy coupling of student and class data to specific interface/inputdevices by a teacher.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a learning systemwhich provides for so-called random program assignments of students inorder to increase the usefulness of the learning system.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a learningsystem having the capability of storing presets, or so-called patterns,for the purpose of quick recall of various parameters.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a learning systemwith the automated capability of compiling student tapes in software.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a so-calledautomatic response analyzer in the learning system for the purpose ofautomating student testing.

Still an additional object of this invention is to provide for thesynchronized control of the learning system hardware and a personalcomputer/RGB/mouse switching network.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the present inventionwill become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, andthe novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a learningsystem and corresponding method are provided with a plurality of studentunits and a teacher unit for use by a plurality of students and ateacher, respectively. A computer is provided as part of the teacherunit and is used to control each of the student units using a rosterfile which contains data pertaining to each of the students. Thecomputer displays to a user of the teacher unit at least some of thedata in the roster file, as desired.

As one aspect of the present invention, the computer displays to theuser information including a seating assignment diagram representing apictorial arrangement of the students. Identification information oneach of the students is provided in the seating assignment diagram atlocations that correspond to the respective student represented in thepictorial arrangement.

As another aspect of the present invention, the user may select one ofthe students in the seating assignment diagram. In response to theselection of a student the computer may display additional data retainedin the roster file (e.g., test scores, teacher notes, etc.) pertainingto the selected student.

As a further aspect of the present invention, the roster file includestesting data that relates to testing results of each of the students,and the testing data is updated to include newly provided testingresults.

As yet another aspect of the present invention, the user selects atleast one student to be moved, and the computer changes the location ofthe selected students in the pictorial arrangement. Position of studentsmay be easily swapped with one another, or selected students may beshifted in a selected direction. Thus, the pictorial arrangement can berearranged without requiring the re-entry of data about each student.

As yet a further aspect of the present invention, a switching devicewhich is responsive to, and acts in connection with a personal computeris used to switch audio information between a selected one of thestudent units and the teacher unit so that the user of the teacher unitmay hear what is being reproduced by the student unit or, alternatively,may communicate with the student using the selected student unit. Thepersonal computer and switching device may be provided as part of theteacher unit.

As a feature of this aspect, the computer displays a designation in theseating assignment diagram at the location corresponding to the selectedstudent unit.

As an additional aspect of the present invention, a program controlselection panel having a plurality of program selections is displayed onthe computer, and the user of the teacher unit may select one of theprogram selections and then select those students to be assigned to theselected program selection. The user of the teacher unit may view rosterdata as desired in order to determine which student units should beincluded in a particular group, or alternatively can have the computersearch all of the roster files of a particular group in order toautomatically assign each student unit to at least one of a plurality ofgroups.

As a feature of this aspect, the computer displays the seatingassignment of each of the students in the seating assignment diagramusing a particular designation, for example color, that is a function ofthe assigned program selection of the respective student.

As a further aspect of the present invention, the computer utilizes theroster files containing information regarding each student anddetermines the status of each of the student units in response to aninquiry by the user of the teacher unit. Thus, it is possible todetermine the status of a plurality of students based upon any number ofcriteria, such as which students passed a particular test, whichstudents have completed certain assignments, or any other attributewhich is retained in the roster files for a particular group ofstudents. The seating assignment diagram displays the determined statusof each of the student units in response to the inquiry at the locationcorresponding to the student utilizing the respective student unit.

As another aspect of the present invention, the roster file includesabsence data that identifies the amount of times each of the students isdetermined to be absent, the computer ascertains the status condition ofeach of the student units, determines whether a student is absent basedon the ascertained status condition of the respective student unit, andupdates the absence data of the roster file to reflect any absencedetermination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example and notintended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best beappreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary system configuration of the learning system ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a master/student recorder;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the teacher control panel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary illustration of the main window of the companionsoftware;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary illustration of the main window of the companionsoftware showing the locations of the student stations that areconnected to the language learning system of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the main window of the companion softwareafter various initializations;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a window of the companion software showingseat numbers of the student stations;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a window of the companion software showingvarious class data for a roster file;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a window of the companion software showingvarious student data of a selected student in a class;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a window of the companion software thatallows for the shifting of student seating assignments;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a window of the companion software thatallows for the printing of class roster information;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of the main window of the companion softwarehaving a student information panel;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a program control panel that is includedin the main window of the companion software;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of the main window of the companion softwarehaving a group call panel;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a window of the companion software thatprovides for student monitoring;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of student unit status data included in themain window of the companion software;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a window of the companion software thatprovides for establishing a conference;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a window of the companion software forperforming the student tape auto compile function of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of an exemplary response analyzer window ofthe companion software relating to the response analyzer function of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of an exemplary response analyzer window forsetting the response analyzer's automatic functions in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of an exemplary analyzer results dialog whichprovides analysis data pertaining to student responses;

FIG. 22 is an illustration of an exemplary CA/LL Switcher Panel thatcontrols the operation of the switching system; and

FIG. 23 is an illustration of an exemplary pattern dialog which assiststhe user in saving and opening pattern files.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The learning system described herein is a computer-assisted learninglaboratory. It is a highly intelligent, yet user-friendly, system whichallows a teacher to efficiently control and track a variety of classesand to conduct effective lessons according to the specific needs of thestudents.

During the process of learning a foreign language, or during the processof learning anything new, a crucial aspect of such learning is theintroduction of audio and visual material to the student. The learningsystem discussed herein enables the teacher to easily incorporate anaudio lesson with corresponding video material. This combined with thepairing of students for conversation practice or selecting a student tobe a "model" voice (discussed below) provides for a variety of learningstimuli. The language learning system of the present embodiment furtherenriches speaking and listening skills for students by integrating thelanguage learning system with personal computers thus providing acomputer-assisted laboratory. Finally, the language learning system ofthe present invention allows for the compilation and manipulation ofdata for each student in a roster file. Thus, various data, includingfor example test scores, attendance records and assignment completionrecords, may be maintained on each student. It is then possible to viewthis information, or to assign certain projects or the like toparticular students based upon the status of various data of the rosterfile.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary systemconfiguration of the learning system of the present invention. As shown,the system is comprised of a teacher unit 30 which includes a personalcomputer (PC) and a control panel, a number of master recorders (e.g.,tape recorders) 32, a number of student recorders 34, and variousoptional accessory equipment, including room speakers 40, a televisionmonitor 42, a CD player/DAT cassette deck 34, a video presentation stand46, a video tape recorder 48, and a number of television sets 50. Inaddition, the learning system may include at least one additionalpersonal computer 60 that operates to aid in control the languagelearning system, or allow for additional input or output avenues, inaccordance with the present invention. Of course many of the recordingand playback devices may be substituted for each other. For example, thetape recorders may be provided as a digital storage or playback devices,or the like. Additionally, any of these peripheral devices may beprovided as input or output devices for use wither by a student or ateacher.

In a single classroom (or in multiple classrooms, as necessary), eachstudent is provided with his or her own student recorder 34 which hasattached thereto a respective headset 34a to allow the students tolisten to a class lesson and also to provide for the recording of thestudent answers on cassettes or other recording media (i.e. minidiscs orhard drives if each student unit is provided with a personal computer)inserted in the respective student recorders 34.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary recorder that may be utilized as either a masterrecorder or a student recorder, but it is appreciated that other typesof recording/reproducing devices may be utilized by the learning systemof the present invention including, but not limited to, a digital audiotape (DAT) recorder, a digital video disk (DVD) recorder and/orreproducing device, etc. Also as is appreciated, the master and studentrecorders mentioned herein have the standard capabilities of high speedcopy/transfer of stored data, independent "program" and "student" volumecontrols, external audio input/output, A-B repeat functions, go to 0,remote control, and various editing functions.

Teacher unit 30 operates as a control console of the learning system. Adisplay thereof is shown in FIG. 3, wherein, for example, 64 studentpositions are supported. As will be discussed, teacher unit 30 allowsthe teacher to carry out various functions including conferencing,student pairing, student\conference modelling, video selection, testinganalyzing, pattern storage, as well as various other functions.

In accordance with the present invention, the teacher, may utilize boththe PC and control panel of the teacher unit 30 (FIG. 1) in order tocontrol the system. This PC of teacher unit 30 utilizes learning systemsoftware provided in accordance with the present invention. In apreferred embodiment, the learning system software, known as thelanguage learning system companion software (or simply, companionsoftware), provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that is designed tocontrol the learning system disclosed herein. In other words, thecompanion software is operable, in addition to providing additionalfeatures (discussed below), to cause the PC of teacher unit 30 toemulate the control panel of teacher unit 30, wherein the image on thecomputer's monitor corresponds to the control panel of the teacher unit,such as shown in FIG. 4. Such emulation is important so that users ofprior control panels may easily learn and operate the new system of theinvention. The personal computer may also be designed to retain variousinformation regarding any of the students using the system. Thisinformation may be stored in roster files so that the information isreadily available to a teacher using the system. Roster files may, ofcourse, be stored at other locations using known network technology.

In addition to controlling or emulating the control panel of teacherunit 30, the computer is operable to perform numerous other functionsincluding various initialization procedures, including theinitialization of the computer system itself as well as theinitialization of the language learning system (i.e., the teacherconsole and the attached devices). During such initialization process,the companion software determines the number of master recorders 32 thatare connected to the language learning system, determines the number ofstudent stations (i.e., student recorders 34) that are connected to thelanguage learning system, and determines the location (e.g., within theclassroom) of the connected student stations.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary illustration of the "main window" display of thecomputer system of teacher unit 30, wherein it is seen that 30 studentstations are detected as being connected to the language learning systemand that the positions of those stations are assigned within an 8 by 8matrix. Of course, other graphical representations of the studentstations are possible. In addition, the computer initializes a so-calledCA/LL (computer assisted/language learning) switcher, if connected tothe learning system, to be further discussed.

Referring next to FIG. 6, the main window of the companion software isshown after the various initialization procedures and after the entry ofvarious additional data including the names of each of the students inthe class by the teacher or other person or procedure. As previouslymentioned, the layout of the companion software display is similar tothe control panel of teacher unit 30. However, the companion softwaremain window includes various features and displays that are not shown onthe control panel of teacher unit 30, such features and displaysgenerally representing operating status and conditions that are beyondthe capability of the control panel 30. For example, program assignments(to be discussed) may be represented by colors or other designatorswithin each student station indicator in the companion software mainwindow, wherein the student stations (in the main window display) ofthose students assigned to a first group may be displayed in a firstcolor, the stations of those students assigned to a second group may bedisplayed in a second color, and so on. Similarly, the stations of thosestudents who are in a so-called library mode may be displayed in anothercolor, and students who are determined to be absent may be displayed inyet a different color. Still further, students who are being monitoredby the teacher (to be discussed) may be identified, for example, by acolored outline around the corresponding student station indicators inthe companion software main window.

In addition to controlling the functions and features of the learningsystem, the companion software provides the computer of teacher unit 30with a number of additional functional features, including simultaneousand redundant operation of the control panel of teacher unit 30 and thecompanion software's main window display, customization of configurationand initialization files, identification of the various audio and videodevices that are connected to the learning system, and identification ofwhether a CA/LL switcher is connected to the learning system andsubsequent configuration thereof. In addition, the companion softwareprovides for user entry of various additional information including theinstitution name, seating assignments (i.e., seat numbers), and variouspasswords. FIG. 7 illustrates a window of the companion software showingseat numbers of the student stations.

In addition to the above mentioned functions, the learning system of thepresent invention includes the capability of allowing students to "call"the teacher by means of an appropriate button on the student recorders,and upon selection by the teacher of the calling student, as indicatedon the main window display, the student is able to communicate, at leastorally, with the teacher. In additional embodiments of the invention, acall by a student may allow for the selection of a group of students bythe teacher, or automatic selection of a group of students based uponroster file information, which may all be interested in theconversation. Similarly, the teacher may "call" a student by "selecting"that student in the main window. Still further, the teacher can "call"students assigned to a particular group or call all the students bymeans of appropriate selections in the companion software's main windowdisplay. Finally, the teacher may call all students based upon a queryof student information maintained within a particular roster file. Thus,it might be possible for a teacher to call all of the students whofailed a particular exam, or who did not yet turn in a particularassignment. Thus, the teacher can converse with students based upon anyattribute in the roster files, even if no prior group regarding thisattribute has been defined.

In accordance with the present invention, the learning system inconjunction with the companion software also provides the followingfeatures:

1. CLASS MANAGEMENT--ROSTER FILES

2. RANDOM PROGRAM ASSIGNMENTS/CONFERENCING/MODEL

3. STUDENT TAPE AUTO COMPILE

4. RESPONSE ANALYZER

5. CA/LL SWITCHER

6. PATTERN FILES

These features of the present invention are discussed in detail below.

1. CLASS MANAGEMENT--ROSTER FILES

In accordance with the present invention, the companion softwareincludes the capability to allow users (e.g., teachers) to create andedit so-called "roster files", which were briefly discussed above ascontaining various information about each student. A roster file, asused herein, is a database of information of each of a group ofstudents. A roster file may represent a database of information for anynumber of student entities, such as all entities in a class or allstudents learning a particular subject (e.g., foreign language, mathclass, science class, etc.) in more than one class or the like. However,by way of example in a preferred embodiment, a roster file pertains toone or more students in a group or class. As will be discussed, some ofthe information contained in a roster file is displayed continuously inthe companion software's main window and other information, e.g.,attendance, is not displayed continuously but instead is selectivelydisplayed. A roster file may be stored permanently on, for example, ahard disk or other storage device and subsequently may be retrieved asrequired (e.g., prior to class time).

When a roster file is created or retrieved through the personal computerof teacher unit 30, various information regarding the roster file isdisplayed to the user, including, for example, the class name, the classnumber (e.g., a school identification number), the teacher name, andclass notes in a user friendly and easily accessible manner, such asshown in FIG. 8. This information may be changed using the same userfriendly display, as necessary. Also, data specific to a selectedstudent may be displayed (also, entered and edited), such as shown inFIG. 9. The student data may include the student's seat number, thestudent's name, the student's identification number, the student's grade(e.g., grade 11, sophomore, etc.), and teacher notes on the student.Other information such as the number of times the student is absent alsomay be displayed, and such information generally is updatedautomatically when attendance is "taken" by the companion software(e.g., by polling the student stations). Still further, so-called"analyzer data" may be displayed. This data refers to the various testinformation that is collected during automatic testing of the student(discussed below). Finally, any other information may be entered by theuser of the teacher unit in order to maintain complete records of eachstudent in a class.

A class management feature of the companion software uses roster filesand further allows the teacher to change student seating assignmentswithout affecting program group assignments (discussed below) or otherstatus/information pertaining to the students. With this feature, ateacher can exchange the positions of two students by "dragging" onestudent block (as shown, for example, in FIG. 6) onto another studentblock. Student seating assignments also may be changed by shiftingstudent positions in a selected direction (e.g., left to right). Stillfurther, the teacher may move only selected students (e.g., studentsassigned to a particular group). FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary windowof the companion software that allows the teacher to shift selectedstudents in a selected direction.

Class roster information, in addition to being displayed, may be printedvia appropriate instructions, wherein the teacher identifies thosestudents to be printed, what information to be printed, and in whatorder the data is to be printed. FIG. 11 is an illustration of a windowof the companion software that allows for the printing of class rosterinformation.

Referring next to FIG. 12, the main window of the companion software mayinclude a so-called "student information panel" which provides textualinformation about a student being monitored. The textual information mayinclude the student's name, the student's identification number, thestudent's school year, student attendance information, the student'saverage score, and teacher notes on that student. Of course, otherinformation pertaining to the student may also be displayed. Aspreviously mentioned, attendance is automatically taken, for example, bypolling each student station at the beginning, middle or end of a class,and the student's absence information thereafter is updatedautomatically. In addition, when a student is considered to be absent,communication with that student's station is terminated. Also, absentstudents are identified in the main window, for example, by displayingthe corresponding student block in a light gray color.

Class management using roster files in accordance with the presentinvention further provides the feature of "group assignments", whereinnon-absent students may be assigned to any one of four (or more) programgroups and library mode. As previously mentioned with reference to FIG.1, a multiple number of (e.g., four) master recorders 32 may beconnected to the learning system of the present invention, and duringthe previously mentioned initialization of the equipment, one of themaster recorders is designated for "program group" 1 students, anothermaster recorder is designated for "program group" 2 students, etc.During class, and in accordance with the present invention, the teacher,by means of the companion software's main window, identifies thosestudents to be assigned to group 1, identifies those students to beassigned to group 2, and so on. Alternatively, the students may beautomatically assigned to a particular group based upon the status ofany particular attribute stored in the roster file, such as whichassignment has been previously completed by a particular student or thestudent's success on various prior assignments, by way of example.Thereafter, students assigned to group 1 hear the audio reproduction ofthe first master recorder, students assigned to group 2 hear the audioreproduction of the second master recorder, etc. As previouslymentioned, and with reference to FIG. 6, student group assignments maybe identified by the respective color of the respective student blocks,or other indicator, in the main window.

Group assignment is achieved by selecting an appropriate programselection box in a program control panel, as shown in FIG. 13, that isincluded in the main window of the companion software, and thenselecting those students either manually or automatically in accordancewith roster file information (i.e., the corresponding student blocks inthe main window) to be assigned to the selected program. In addition,other group assignment functions include assigning all students to asingle program group (e.g., by selecting "ALL" in the program controlpanel), assigning students randomly to a program group, and assigningstudents to the next available group, that is, assigning studentspreviously assigned to group 1 to group 2, assigning students previouslyassigned to group 2 to group 3, etc. Students assigned to library modeare unaffected. In addition, the teacher may allow each student tochoose the program group to which he or she will be assigned.

Class management further is carried out by means of the companionsoftware's capability of easily allowing the teacher to perform a "groupcall", wherein the teacher is able to communicate with the studentsassigned to a selected program group(s). In this instance, the teacherselects one or more of the group call numbers in the group call panelincluded in the companion software's main window, as shown in FIG. 14.Thereafter, the companion software selects the corresponding programsource(s), supplies the teacher's voice to each of the selected studentsvia their respective student stations, and optionally either prevents orpermits transmission to the teacher of the selected students' voices. Inaddition, the companion software optionally may pause the particularmaster recorder(s) 32 corresponding to the selected group(s) during thegroup call so that portions of the tape for a particular group will notbe played while the teacher is speaking with the students assigned tothe group.

As previously mentioned, students may be monitored by the teacher usingthe companion software. FIG. 15 is an exemplary window of the companionsoftware that allows the teacher to set up a so-called scanning monitorfunction. A manual scanning monitor mode is available, during which thenext student to be monitored is monitored in response to a request bythe teacher. During an automatic scanning monitor mode, however,selected students are monitored automatically and sequentially for apre-set period of time. Once a student has been monitored, he or sheneed not be monitored again until all students in a group have beenmonitored. In this mode, the teacher may identify which students (e.g.,all students, students assigned to a particular group, students fittinga particular query regarding information in the roster file, etc.) tomonitor, the scanning direction, the duration of time to monitor eachstudent, whether monitoring may be "paused", etc. In accordance with thepresent invention, those students designated to be monitored areidentified in the companion software's main window. Referring back toFIG. 6, student blocks containing an "x" have already been monitored. Ofcourse, additional characters and representations may be provided toidentify those students previously monitored, that student currentlybeing monitored, and those students who are to be monitored.

The learning system/companion software further provides the function ofdisplaying (e.g., within the main window) the tape transport status ofall connected student units. Such information may be selectivelydisplayed or continuously displayed. FIG. 16 illustrates exemplary datato be included within the student blocks in the main window, wherein, asshown, an "S" indicates that the student's tape recorder 34 is in stopmode, the character ">" represents the play mode, the characters ">>"represent the fast forward mode, the characters "<<" represent therewind mode, the characters "NT" indicates that no tape is in thestudent deck, "EOT" indicates that the tape is at its beginning or end,"2x>" represents that the two times reproduction mode, "REC" representsthe recording mode, "2xR" represents a double speed recording mode,"DRL" represents drill recording, "RP" indicates the tape in the studentrecorder is record protected, and "AA" indicates an audio active panel.

2. RANDOM PROGRAM ASSIGNMENT/CONFERENCING/MODEL

Another feature of the companion software in accordance with the presentinvention is the functions of providing random program or groupassignments, random conferencing and random modelling. As previouslydiscussed with reference to FIG. 13, the teacher may individually assignstudents to different program groups, or in an alternative embodiment,may assign students to groups based on certain conditions regarding theretained data of each of the students. In addition, the teacher mayrandomly assign each or selected students to an available program groupby means of an appropriate instruction (e.g., selecting the "RANDOM"block in the program control panel of the main window). Upon randomselection, the companion software randomly assigns those students whoare both present and not in the library mode to any one of the programgroups that are available (i.e., to any one of the master recorders 32).Thus, if four master recorders are connected to the learning system,then each student (present and not in library mode) is assigned toeither the first recorder, the second recorder, the third recorder orthe fourth recorder. Still further, and although not schematically shownin the drawings, the students may be randomly selected so that onlyparticular students are assigned to particular program groups.

As an alternative or in addition to random group assignment, the teachermay randomly change the seating assignments of the entire class or of aselected group of students. For example, the window shown in FIG. 10includes a random shift direction option which provides for the randomshifting of the student seating assignments. Of course, not only may theseating assignment be randomly shifted, but also randomly moved in othermanners, such as the random swapping of pairs of student seatingassignments.

As previously discussed, current systems provide hardware for theestablishment of a conference, wherein students within that conferenceare able to communicate with one another. However, in a particularembodiment, the present invention allows for the establishment ofmultiple conferences, all setup in software, wherein students withineach conference are able to communicate only with students within therespective conference. The teacher may monitor any of the particularconferences by choice, or may monitor any number of the conferences inan automatic switching manner, as noted above. Further, a conference maybe established by selecting a collection of students to be includedtherein, or in an alternative embodiment by setting certain criteria forautomatic selection of students to a particular conference, aside fromthe manual assignment of students to a conference. For example, thewindow shown in FIG. 17 allows for the selection of students that areassigned to one or more groups to be assigned to a conference. Forexample, the teacher may select those students assigned to group 2 orgroup 3 to be included in the same conference, whereupon all of thestudents assigned to either of these groups are able to communicate withone another. In addition, and in accordance with the present invention,the teacher may have the companion software randomly select thosestudents to be included in one or more conferences, and optionally mayselect the number of students to be included in each of thoseconferences. For example, the companion software may randomly selectboth the number of students and the particular students to be includedin a particular conference, or the companion software may randomlyselect up to a designated number of students to be included in aconference. Still further, multiple conferences may be established, asmentioned above, with the additional possibility that the teacherselects those students to be included in one conference and the computerrandomly selects those students to be included in another conference, orany combination thereof. For example, the companion software mayrandomly select, e.g., 10 students to be included in a first conference,randomly select 15 students (who are not assigned to the firstconference) to be included in a second conference, and randomly selects10 students (who are not assigned to either the first conference or thesecond conference) to be included in a third conference, etc. Thus, if60 students are present, and the teacher wants to establish conferencesmade up of, for example, only four students, then the companion softwaremay be set to randomly set up 15 conferences, each including only fourstudents.

In addition to establishing conferences, so-called "random pairing" maybe achieved by the companion software, wherein students are randomlypaired to each other by the companion software. Here, each student isable to communicate only with that person to which he or she is paired.For example, if there are 20 students in a class, random pairing causes10 two-person conferences to be created.

Referring once again to FIG. 17, one option relating to conference modeis "model the conference", wherein the companion software automatically"models" that conference allowing all students to hear the members ofthat conference. That is, all of the students that are not in theconference are able to hear the conference (i.e., all of the studentsincluded in the conference). In addition to modelling a conference, thecompanion software allows the teacher to model any one particularstudent or, similarly, any pair of students that have been pairedtogether, for example, during random pairing. Still further, one of theestablished conferences may be randomly selected as the model conferenceby the companion software and, similarly, a student or a pair ofstudents also may be randomly selected to be modelled.

3. STUDENT TAPE AUTO COMPILE

A further feature of the learning system\companion software of thepresent invention is the companion software's ability to assist theteacher in automating the process of retrieving audio recordings made oneach of the student stations (i.e., student recorders 34) and compilingthose audio recordings into a selected format onto one or more cassettetapes in master recorder(s) 32. FIG. 18 is an exemplary window of thecompanion software for performing the student tape auto compile functionof the present invention. As shown, the teacher may choose to compileaudio recordings from all student stations, from student stationsassigned to any of the four program groups, or from student stationsassigned to library mode. Also as shown, the teacher may indicate thelengths of the cassette tapes on which the audio recordings are beingrecorded in the master recorder(s), as well as which master recorder(s)is to be used to record the compiled information. The teacher furthermay identify the amount of recording time of each selected student thatis to be compiled and the particular recording speed by the masterrecorder during such compiling. Other miscellaneous functions also maybe specified including whether the cassette tape in the masterrecorder(s) is to be rewound after compilation is completed, whether thecompanion software is to print out a listing of students whoserecordings were copied, and whether the student tapes are to be rewoundafter the compilation process. Also as shown, the companion softwaredisplays various information to the teacher, including the total numberof students that have been selected for compilation, the total studentrecording time (which generally is a function of the time per studentselection), the amount of time needed to compile the audio recordings,and the number of cassette tapes that are required for such compilation.

Although not shown in FIG. 18, the companion software further allows theteacher to specify the particular recording format of compilation. Forexample, the teacher may specify that the student recordings arecompiled sequentially onto the "master" cassette tapes in the mastertape recorder(s), wherein the entire recording or a selected amount oftime of the recording of the first selected student is recorded (i.e.,copied), then the recording of the second selected student is copied,and so on. Student order may be selected by the teacher, may correspondto the student seating assignment, or may be determined based on othercriteria, for example, previous test results of the students, studentgrade level, etc. Another possible recording format is to record studentrecordings by question order, wherein the first answer of all selectedstudents are copied onto the master cassette tape, and then the secondanswer of those students are copied, and so on. Here, the question ordermay be sequential (i.e., question order number 1, 2, 3, etc.), or may beselected by the teacher. In this instance, the student recorders arecontrolled to fast forward or rewind to the beginning of the appropriateanswer by means of the recording of data "marks" or signals on thestudent cassettes at the beginning and/or end of each student answer,thus facilitating the locating of a particular answer on the students'cassette tapes.

By using the student tape auto compile function of the presentinvention, the teacher is able to automatically record student answersonto master tape cassettes for any desired purpose. For example, toallow the teacher to "take home" the students answers for gradingpurposes. Also, particular government sponsored exams require thatstudent answers be recorded in a particular format. Thus, the learningsystem of the present invention provides for the quick, easy andautomatic process of providing student recordings in the requiredformat.

4. RESPONSE ANALYZER

Another feature of the learning system of the present invention is thecompanion software's so-called "response analyzer" function whichprovides for the automatic testing of students. The response analyzerfunction assists the teacher in the test taking process or automaticallycontrols the test taking process in accordance with the teacher'srequirements. Such assistance/control may be provided for a single testquestion, selected test questions, a sequence of test questions, or theentire test (i.e., all of the test questions).

FIG. 19 is an exemplary response analyzer window of the companionsoftware for use by the teacher during or prior to student testing. Toinitiate a new question (e.g., during student testing), the teacherselects "START QUESTION" in the response analyzer window. Thereafter,the selection "START QUESTION" changes to "CLOSE QUESTION" to allow theteacher to manually "close" (i.e., terminate) the question.Alternatively, a separate "CLOSE QUESTION" selection block may beincluded along with the "START QUESTION" selection block.

During testing, the companion software provides to the teacher varioususeful information including the amount of time that has elapsed sincethe start of the current question, the question number (which generallyincrements each time the teacher starts a new question), the number ofstudents who have responded to the current question, and the ratio ofthe number of students who have responded to the current question to thetotal number of non-absent students (response ratio). These values areupdated continuously. The response analyzer window further displays the"correct" answer for the current question as programmed by the teacher(e.g., the correct answer is identified by a different color). Also asshown, the response analyzer function provides a bar graph display withfive columns, each column corresponding to a different possible answer,and after the initiation of a question, the percentage of studentsselecting the respective response is shown in the bar graph. Of course,other types of graphs may be provided.

The companion software's response analyzer function further includes anauto-question-close function in which the teacher is able to pre-programthe response analyzer to "close" a test question after selected criteriaare satisfied. Referring to the exemplary window shown in FIG. 20, theteacher may indicate a particular question, or questions, or all of thequestions, to automatically close based on the following selectableparameters. The teacher may select the time method wherein the companionsoftware closes the question after the selected amount of time haspassed. The teacher may select the correct answer ratio method whereinthe companion software closes the question after the selected percentageof students have answered the question correctly. The teacher may selectthe response ratio method wherein the companion software closes thequestion after the selected percentage of students have responded to thequestion. And the teacher may select the number of responses method,wherein the companion software closes the question after the selectednumber of students have responded to the question. For ease of use, thethreshold value in the window shown in FIG. 20 represents that number orpercentage utilized by the selected method. In addition, the teacher mayselect a combination of methods to allow for further flexibility in thetesting procedure. For example, both the timer method and the correctanswer ratio method may be selected, wherein the question is closedautomatically after the selected amount of time has passed or after theselected percentage of students have answered the question correctly,whichever is sooner (or, alternatively, later). Of course, variousmethods and/or combinations of methods may be utilized depending on theparticular type of test and needs of the teacher.

The analyzer features shown in FIG. 20 further include other automaticfunctions including a so-called "`all call` during `data set`" functionwhich enables the teacher to communicate with the students, for example,to allow the teacher to recite the question and possible answers priorto allowing the students to select their responses. Another feature"`all call` during `feedback`" enables the teacher to verbally informthe students of the correct answer and explain the results of theresponses to the question. The function "show instructions" providesinstructions to the teacher.

As previously mentioned, the response analyzer function may be used toassist the teacher for a particular question, selected questions or allof the questions given in a test. Generally, the teacher may choose touse the same method of automatically closing a question for all of thequestions in a test. However, the teacher may select different "autoclose question" methods for different questions within the same test forfurther flexibility in the testing process. Thus, each question may begiven in a customized manner, as needed.

In accordance with the present invention, the teacher may preparequestions and answers in advance and have the companion software performthat test automatically. The test may be in the form of writtenquestions or oral questions, wherein the oral questions are provided bythe teacher during testing or, alternatively, are provided by one of themaster recorders reproducing a cassette tape having questions previouslyrecorded thereon. The teacher may further identify the possible answers,again either in written form or orally, and identify to the companionsoftware the correct answer for each question. The teacher optionallymay pre-program the companion software to automatically close selectedor all questions using one or more auto-question-close method.Thereafter, the response analyzer function of the present invention isoperable to automatically test the students in accordance with theteacher's desires.

Other programmable options include, and as previously mentioned,allowing the teacher to provide feedback to the students after and/orbefore each question, and feedback to the teacher of certain statisticalinformation pertaining to the current question (e.g., percentagecorrect, etc.). The companion software further can identify eachstudent's selected answer in the respective student block in the mainwindow of the companion software. For example, A, B, C, D or E isdisplayed in the student block depending on the student's answer (asentered on the respective student station), and a question mark isdisplayed if the student has not yet responded to the current question.

The response analyzer function further provides the teacher with acomprehensive, detailed analysis of the student responses which then canbe printed and/or saved in a file. The detailed analysis of the studentresponses is provided by a so-called "analyzer results" dialog which isshown in FIG. 21. As shown, the "STUDENT RESULTS" portion of the dialogdisplays two grids, a first grid which shows the scores of each of thestudents, and a second grid which illustrates detailed information(e.g., the student's responses for each of the questions, as well as thecorrect answers) for the student highlighted in the first grid. Thedialog also includes a "CLASS SUMMARY" which identifies the correctanswer, the response ratio and the correct response ratio of each of thequestions, as well as the class average. All of the data provided in theanalyzer results dialog, in addition to the particular questions andanswers of the test (if provided), may be stored in memory or in a filein a storage device. This data also may be printed.

The response analyzer function of the present invention further includesthe capability to automatically (or manually) update the student scoresin the roster file. When updating the roster file, the teacheroptionally may designate a test weight factor (e.g., between 1 and 10)for the current test and, then, each student score, along with the testweight factor, is added to the roster file for that class. In addition,a question weight factor for each individual question within the testmay be set, if desired, and the question weight factors also are storedin the roster file. Generally, the test weight factor determines thenumber of times a test and the corresponding student score is counted inthe average. If question weight factors are provided, then the studentscore reflects the particular question weight factors of the questionsin that test. Of course, other weighting factors also may be utilized.

5. SYNCHRONIZED CONTROL OF LANGUAGE LEARNING SYSTEM HARDWARE ANDPERSONAL COMPUTER RGB/MOUSE COMPUTER-SWITCHING NETWORK

The companion software includes the feature of controlling an RGB/MouseComputer-Switching System (i.e., the CA\LL switcher) that is compatiblewith the language learning system through, for example, an RS-232 serialcommunications port on the computer of teacher unit 30 running thecompanion software. The CA/LL switcher is an existing switching devicethat switches video sources and control signals between various devices(e.g., the student computers and the teacher's computer). A CA/LLSwitcher panel, such as shown in FIG. 22, controls the overall operationof the switching system and provides the following functions. The CA/LLswitcher may be placed in either an on mode or a standby mode, all orselected student stations (e.g., student stations assigned to aparticular group) may be included in CA\LL switching (to be discussed),and personal computers that optionally are attached to the selectedstudent stations may be controlled by the teacher's computer (runningthe companion software).

The synchronized control feature of the present invention allows theteacher to cause the video display on the teacher's computer to be sentto all selected student computer screens, wherein each student stationhas a respective personal computer attached thereto. When the "SENDSCREEN" function is selected by the teacher, the companion software mainwindow may be automatically minimized so as to not display that windowon the student computer screens, and when the teacher turns "SENDSCREEN" off, the companion software main window may automatically bemaximized so that the teacher can resume operation of the companionsoftware. The teacher also may cause selected student computer screensto blank, if necessary. Finally, the teacher may control the keyboardand mouse of a particular student being monitored. Upon selection of"KEYBOARD/MOUSE", the computer screen of the student being monitored isswitched to the teacher's monitor and, thereafter, the teacher is ableto control that student's computer keyboard and mouse to perform anynecessary operations. For example, it may be necessary for a teacher to"take over" a student's computer to expedite some operation, or astudent may be operating his or her own computer in an improper mannerthus requiring teacher action.

The above-discussed keyboard/mouse function of the present inventioncauses the teacher's computer to control one of the student's computer.Such control may be accomplished by means of a second teacher'scomputer, wherein that second computer controls the student's computerand the teacher's "first" computer is used to execute the companionsoftware of the present invention. However, if the teacher's computer isutilized to run the companion software and also is utilized as the"source PC" for the CA/LL switcher, then activation of thekeyboard/mouse function causes the teacher's computer to physicallydisconnect from its own screen, keyboard and mouse. When this happens,the companion software is unable to receive input from the teacher and,in order to prevent the teacher's computer from being "locked up", thecompanion software utilizes the following methods to return control ofthe teacher's computer to the teacher. First, a countdown timer methodmay be utilized, wherein the CA/LL switcher window includes a countdowntimer which is automatically activated when the teachers selects thekeyboard/mouse function. The countdown timer is set to any amount oftime, for example, one second, five seconds, ten seconds, thirtyseconds, etc. Another method is to cause interruption by means of thedepression of one of the buttons, for example, the "call clear" buttonon teacher console 30. Of course, other methods may be used.

Moreover, and although not shown in FIG. 22, the source computer (i.e.,the teacher's computer) optionally may "listen" and/or "see" theaudio/video that is heard and seen by the selected student. Thus, theteacher is able to monitor not only the status of a selected student, aspreviously discussed, but also the video and audio information that isbeing seen and heard by that student.

6. PATTERN FILES

The companion software of the present invention further allows teachersto create so-called "pattern files" which contain data regarding thestatus and settings of the learning system, as well as information thatis specific to the companion software settings. A pattern file may storea number of different "patterns", and after the selection of a storedpattern, the data in the selected pattern is used to set up both thelearning system (control panel) and the companion software. A patternmay be created and then stored, and subsequently may be reproduced tosetup the system. Each pattern includes various data relating to thelearning system including the program group assignments for thestudents, monitor television settings, room television settings, speakersettings, program number settings, Mic mix settings, program cutsettings, Mic cut settings, lid lock settings, auto transfer x1, autotransfer x2 settings, control panel enabled/disabled settings, and soon. Pattern data related to the companion software includes all scanningmonitor parameters, all "view" menu settings (e.g., CA/LL switcher paneldisplay, clock display, student information panel display, sourcecontrol panel display, student unit status display, seat numbersdisplay, monitor marks display, etc.), and all "user option" settings,all as previously discussed. In other words, all information relating tothe setup of all of the hardware systems in the learning system of thepresent invention including button/knob settings and switching settingsand all information pertaining to the setup of the companion software,including scanning information, the appearance of the main and otherwindows, and other settings for the companion software, for a singleclass (or alternatively, multiple classes) are stored in a "pattern" ofa pattern file. After the teacher sets up the learning system andcompanion software as desired, such set up may be stored as a patternand subsequently be retrieved by the teacher prior to each class. Inaddition, a teacher may have multiple patterns for a particular class,wherein a first pattern is used for one portion of a class and anotherpattern is used for another portion of the class. For example, a firstpattern may be used during an instructional stage of a class, and asecond pattern may be used for a testing stage of the class.

The companion software includes a dialog, such as shown in FIG. 23, toassist the teacher with saving and opening pattern files, and withstoring and recalling the pattern data. As shown, the pattern dialogincludes a small representation of much of the companion software mainscreen which displays either the current settings of the data that makea pattern, or the settings of each of, for example, five patterns storedin a pattern file. The teacher may then "preview" the pattern settingsbefore recalling the pattern data. Thus, patterns can be previewed priorto distributing to the class.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described inconjunction with preferred embodiments and features thereof, it will bereadily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example, although the learning system of the presentinvention has been described with reference to the learning of a foreignlanguage, the present invention is not limited to foreign languages andmay be applied to the learning of other areas, for example, arts,sciences, etc.

As another example, although the companion software is described asincluding a main window, a number of other windows, and a number ofdialogs, the present invention is not limited solely to the arrangementas described and may be widely applied to a learning system beingoperated by software that provides information to the user in othermanners and formats.

Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted asincluding the embodiments described herein, the alternatives mentionedabove, and all equivalents thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automated learning system, comprising:aplurality of student units, each of said student units adapted to beutilized by a respective one of a plurality of students; a teacher unithaving a display and a computer, said teacher unit being coupled witheach of said student units; a communication router coupled with each ofsaid plurality of student units and said teacher unit; and a roster filefor use by said teacher unit and said communicating router, said rosterfile retaining current and historical individual data pertaining to eachof said plurality of students utilizing each of said student units,wherein said communication router controls communications between atleast two of said student or teacher units in accordance with saidcurrent and historical data in said roster file.
 2. The learning systemof claim 1, wherein said data in said roster file at least identifieseach of said students utilizing each of said respective student units,said teacher unit being operable to display identification informationabout each of said students corresponding to said data pertaining toeach of said students retained in said roster file.
 3. The learningsystem of claim 2, wherein said teacher unit is operable to display awindow of information including at least a student seating assignmentdiagram and at least said identification information about each of saidstudents at locations corresponding to the respective student.
 4. Thelearning system of claim 3, wherein said identification informationabout each of said students comprises the student's name.
 5. Thelearning system of claim 3, wherein said roster file includes additionaldata not included in said seating assignment diagram of said windowdisplayed by said computer pertaining to each of said students.
 6. Thelearning system of claim 5, wherein said teacher unit includes means forselecting one of said students represented in said pictorialarrangement; and wherein said teacher unit is operable to display withinsaid window of information said additional data pertaining to theselected student.
 7. The learning system of claim 6, wherein saidteacher unit allows a user to select said student.
 8. The learningsystem of claim 5, wherein said data not included in said studentseating assignment diagram includes at least information pertaining totest scores of each of said students.
 9. The learning system of claim 3,wherein said roster file includes testing data relating to testingresults of each of said students, said teacher unit and saidcommunication router being operable to update said testing data toinclude newly provided testing results.
 10. The learning system of claim3, wherein said teacher unit is operable to change a location of atleast one of said students as represented by said pictorial arrangement,in response to an instruction from a user.
 11. The learning system ofclaim 10, wherein said teacher unit is operable to swap positions of twoselected students as represented by said pictorial arrangement.
 12. Thelearning system of claim 10, wherein said teacher unit is operable toshift locations of selected students as represented by said pictorialarrangement in a selected direction.
 13. The learning system of claim 3,wherein each of said student units includes an audio reproducing devicefor reproducing audio information from a respective record medium, saidteacher unit including means for supplying audio information to a user.14. The learning system of claim 13, wherein said teacher unit includesmeans for selecting at least one of said students represented in saidpictorial arrangement; said communication router being operable toswitch audio information between said at least one of said selectedstudent units and said teacher unit.
 15. The learning system of claim14, wherein said teacher unit is operable to display a designation insaid seating assignment diagram at said location corresponding to saidat least one selected student.
 16. The learning system of claim 3,wherein said teacher unit is operable to display within said window ofinformation a program control selection panel having a plurality ofprogram selections; said teacher unit including means for assigning atleast one of said students represented in said pictorial arrangement toone of said program selections in said program control selection panel.17. The learning system of claim 16, wherein said teacher unit isoperable to identify in the displayed window the assigned programselections of each of said students.
 18. The learning system of claim17, wherein said teacher unit displays the seating assignment of each ofsaid students in the seating assignment diagram in a color that is afunction of the assigned program selection of the respective student.19. The learning system of claim 3, wherein said teacher unit isoperable to determine a status of each of said student units and furtheris operable to display in said seating assignment diagram the determinedstatus of each of said student units at said location corresponding tothe student utilizing the respective student unit.
 20. The learningsystem of claim 1, wherein said roster file includes absence dataidentifying an amount of times each of said students is determined to beabsent.
 21. The learning system of claim 20, wherein said teacher unitis operable to ascertain a status condition of each of said studentunits, to determine whether a student is absent based on the ascertainedstatus condition of the respective student unit, and to update saidabsence data of said roster file to reflect any absent determination.22. A learning system, comprising:a plurality of recording means forrecording information, each of said recording means being utilized by arespective one of a plurality of students; a roster file comprisingcurrent and historical information pertaining to each of said pluralityof students; and control means for controlling said plurality ofrecording means in accordance said current and historical data in saidroster file.
 23. The learning system of claim 22, wherein said controlmeans includes display means for displaying to a user at least a portionof said information in said roster file pertaining to each of saidplurality of students.
 24. The learning system of claim 23, wherein saiddata in said roster file identifies each of said students utilizing saidrecording means, at least a portion of said displayed informationcomprising said identification information of each of said plurality ofstudents.
 25. The learning system of claim 24, wherein said displaymeans is operable to display a window of information, said windowincluding a seating assignment diagram representing a pictorialarrangement of said students and including within said seatingassignment diagram said identification information on each of saidstudents at locations corresponding to the respective studentrepresented in said pictorial arrangement.
 26. The learning system ofclaim 25, wherein said identification information on each of saidstudents is the student's name.
 27. The learning system of claim 25,wherein said roster file includes additional data pertaining to each ofsaid students not included in said seating assignment diagram of thedisplayed window.
 28. The learning system of claim 27, wherein saidcontrol means includes selection means for selecting one of saidstudents represented in said pictorial arrangement; and wherein saiddisplay means is operable to display within said window of informationsaid additional data pertaining to the selected student.
 29. Thelearning system of claim 27, wherein said data not included in saidseating assignment diagram includes information pertaining to testscores of each of said students.
 30. The learning system of claim 25,wherein said control means includes means for determining a status ofeach of said recording means; and wherein said display means is operableto display in said seating assignment diagram the determined status ofeach of said recording means at said location corresponding to thestudent utilizing the respective recording means.
 31. A method ofcontrolling a learning system having a plurality of student units foruse by a plurality of respective students, comprising the stepsof:providing a roster file having current and historical data pertainingto each of said students; providing a teacher unit having an interface;controlling said student units in accordance with an input from saidteacher unit and said current and historical data in said roster file;and displaying at least a portion of the data in said roster filepertaining to each of said students.
 32. The method of claim 31, whereinsaid displayed data includes at least identification information abouteach of said students corresponding to said data in said roster files.33. The method of claim 32, wherein said displaying step is carried outby displaying a window of information on said teacher unit, said windowincluding at least a student seating assignment diagram and at leastsaid identification information about each of said students at locationscorresponding to the respective student.
 34. The method of claim 33,wherein said identification information on each of said students is thestudent's name.
 35. The method of claim 33, wherein said roster fileincludes additional data not included in said seating assignment diagramof said displayed window pertaining to each of said students.
 36. Themethod of claim 35, further comprising the step of selecting one of saidstudents represented in said pictorial arrangement; and wherein saiddisplayed data is said additional data pertaining to the selectedstudent.
 37. The method of claim 35, wherein said data not included insaid seating assignment diagram includes information pertaining to testscores of each of said students.
 38. The method of claim 33, whereinsaid roster file includes testing data relating to testing results ofeach of said students, said method further comprising the step ofupdating said testing data to include newly provided testing results.39. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:selecting atleast one student; and changing a location of said at least one studentas represented by said pictorial arrangement.
 40. The method of claim33, further comprising the steps of:selecting two students; and swappingthe positions of said two selected students as represented by saidpictorial arrangement.
 41. The method of claim 33, further comprisingthe steps of:selecting students to be shifted; selecting a direction ofmovement; and shifting the locations of the selected students asrepresented by said pictorial arrangement in said selected direction.42. The method of claim 33, wherein each of said student units includesan audio reproducing device for reproducing audio information from arespective record medium; said method further comprising the step ofsupplying audio information to said user from at least one of said audioreproducing devices.
 43. The method of claim 42, further comprising thesteps of:selecting at least one of said students represented in saidpictorial arrangement; and switching said audio information between theat least one selected student unit and said user.
 44. The method ofclaim 43, wherein audio information reproduced by the audio reproducingdevice of the selected student unit is supplied to said user in saidswitching step.
 45. The method of claim 43, further comprising the stepof supplying audio information from said user to the selected studentunit so that the student using the selected student unit hears the audioinformation provided by said user.
 46. The method of claim 43, wherein adesignation in said seating assignment diagram is displayed at saidlocation corresponding to the selected student.
 47. The method of claim33, wherein a program control selection panel having a plurality ofprogram selections is displayed within said window of information; saidmethod further comprising the steps of:selecting one of said programselections in said program control selection panel; selecting at leastone of said students represented in said pictorial arrangement; andassigning the selected students to the selected program selection. 48.The method of claim 47, wherein program identification information isdisplayed in the displayed window identifying the assigned programselections of each of said students.
 49. The method of claim 48, whereinthe seating assignment of each of said students is displayed in theseating assignment diagram in a color that is a function of the assignedprogram selection of the respective student.
 50. The method of claim 47,wherein said at least one student is selected by said control unit basedupon said at least data in said roster file.
 51. The method of claim 33,further comprising the step of determining a status of each of saidstudent units, wherein the determined status of each of said studentunits is displayed in the seating arrangement diagram at said locationcorresponding to the student utilizing the respective student unit. 52.The method of claim 31, wherein said roster file includes absence dataidentifying an amount of times each of said students is determined to beabsent.
 53. The method of claim 52, further comprising the stepsof:ascertaining a status condition of each of said student units;determining whether a student is absent based on the ascertained statuscondition of the respective student unit; and updating said absence dataof said roster file to reflect any absent determination.
 54. The methodof claim 31, wherein said interface of said teacher unit emulates all ofthe functions of a control panel for controlling the learning system.55. The method of claim 54, wherein a teacher may select whether tocontrol the learning system from said control panel or said interface.